New glory for star racehorse Man Booker off the track

Elite racehorse Man Booker is beginning a second career as a show horse with a rider who was delighted to give him a new home when he retired.

Together, he and new partner Indianna Weinert have been working on their skills and a recent coaching clinic on the first anniversary of the Off the Track WA Passport was a chance to extend their experience.

Passports have been claimed for more than 2200 horses in the first year of the initiative launched by Racing and Wagering Western Australia to improve understanding of the lives and locations of retired racehorses.

General Manager Racing Charlotte Mills said the passport not only assists in the traceability of horses post-racing but also supports their transition to other equestrian pursuits by providing access to coaching clinics like the one Indianna and Man Booker attended at the Murray Regional Equestrian Centre.

“Man Booker won more than $1million in prize money during his racing career, including big races such as the WA Guineas, Northerly Stakes and, in 2017, the Pinjarra Classic, in the Peel region,” Charlotte said.

“As a racehorse, Man Booker was a fan favourite and he was unusual in having an all-female syndicate of owners and a female jockey, Jerry Noske, for most of his wins. It’s interesting to see the tradition continue with his new owner Indianna.

“He was one of the early horses signed up for an Off the Track WA Passport and we’re delighted his second career promises to be just as successful as his first.”

Indianna said Man Booker had already achieved wins at his first two shows in the hacking arena and she was thrilled to offer him a new home through her connection with his race trainer Dan Morton.

“I was working with Dan and he asked me if I knew anyone who’d like to take Man Booker on. I knew how beautiful he was so I snapped him up as quickly as I could,” she said.

“He has a lovely temperament, he’s a quick learner and very level headed.

“We’ve won at our first two shows together and I’ve met a couple of his former owners at horse shows, who are still fans and keep in contact.

“The Off the Track WA clinic is a chance to give Man Booker exposure to different environments and learning new things.

“We have the Perth Royal Show coming up and he’s entered in a show horse class. I also want to see how far we can go up the grades with dressage.

“He’s a one-person horse who follows me everywhere I go and he will only take treats from me, which makes me feel very special. I love him.”

Susan de Ruyter